Improvement in sample-envelopes



T. J. GORMAN. Sample Envelope.

Patented Dec. 9, 1879.

N-PETERS, PDIOTD-LITHOGRAPHEB. WASHINGTON. D Q- THOMA SfJ. eonMAn,

mam YORK, N. Y.

IM PROVEM ENUT IN SVAM PLE- ENVELOPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,394, dated December 9,1879; application filed October 15, 1879.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, THOMAS J. GoRMAN, of New York city, have invented certain new useful Improvements in Openable or Mailing Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide an improved form of openable envelope for mailing purposes, which, while being of a simple and in.

expensive construction, may be easily opened for an examination of its contents, and readily and securely closed after inspection; and the main feature of my invention may be stated to consist in constructing an envelope with a metallic pronged fastening embodied in its sealing-face, and adaptedto be passed through a re-enforced or eyeleted opening in the flap and clinchedor bent down upon the same to hold thefiaps'ecurely closed in a readily-oped able manner.

Figure 1 in the annexed drawings presents an elevation of thersealing-face of my improved envelope, and Fig. 2 on X X. p

The envelope, as illustrated, is made in any a cross section ,of the approved forms, preferably of strong Manila paper andin an oblong shape, with [the flaps at the ends.

' One end of the envelope is left open to receive the samples or other mailable matter,

the flap a, at this end being gummed on the margin, in theusual manner, so that the flap may be moistened and scaled down after the envelopeis filled. The flap b at the other end, however, is, according to my invention,

held down by a metallic fastening embedded in that end of the envelope. This fastening is indicated at A, and is'preferably an or-- 'dinary. form of paper-fastener made of soft brass, which is embedded in the sealing-face of the envelope under the flap 1), with its bendable prongs or nibs projecting from the sealing-face, and adapted to pass through the flap and hold the same closed. This fastening is preferably formed with two bendable prongs ornibs, bendable in opposite directions;

but a fastening with one or more nib s may b adopted without objection. i

The fastening is held securely in thesealing-face of the envelope by socketiugits' headed end between the cemented overlying and underlying folds in the face of the en velope, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, thus form ing a very secure yet simple means of holding the fastening, which prevents its becoming displaced either inwardly or outwardly from the envelope.

The fla-p' b is perforated with a hole, 0, to

admit the prongs of the fastener A through the same when the flap is fasteneddown,

and this opening is preferably re-euforced by several folds on the under side of the flap, or

by a metallic eyelet, B, riveted inthe opening, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The eyelet B, thus greatly strengthens the sides of thehole and enables it to effectually resist the lateral strain thereon caused by bending the nibs, which would otherwise be liable to tear It will now be seen that when the nibsot' the fastener are passed through the eyelet of the flap and flatteued down upon the same,

as shown in Fig. 1, the openable'end of the envelope will be closed in a neat and secure manner, not liable to open by accident,

It will be observed, however, that the postal clerk or other person may open the en velope to inspect or remove its contents by simply bending up the nibs and liftingthe flap, which may be effected with great ease and quickness, while the envelope can be again sealed with equal facility by reversing the action,'thus presenting animportant advantage over the ordinary mailing-envelope fastenedwith tapes, the tying anduntying-of which require appreciable care andftime, and I are, moreover, liable to become loose from hurried and imperfect tying. WV hat I claim as my invention is 1. An openablemailing-envelope constructed i with a metallic pronged fastening embodied in and projecting from its sealing-face, and

adapted to be projected through the flap and flattened down upon the same, substantially as herein set forth. l 2. An openable envelope constructed with a metallic pronged fastening having its headed end fixed in the sealing-face of the envelope by embedment between the overlying and underlying folds in the cemented joint of the envelope, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. An openable envelope constructed with a metallic pronged and bendable fastening fi'xed in its sealing-face, together with a flap provided with a re-enforced or eyeleted opening to engage the prongs of said fastening, substantially as descritied and shown.

THOMAS J. GORMAN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. WALES, CHAS. M. HIGGINS. 

